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Show DAILY Sunday, August 28, 2005 HERALD TCU JOINS THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TCU Continued from D1 helping to advance it where ev- eryone wants to go.” TCU football coach Gary Patterson said. “Where we're located is ideal. We'rein a large market that cares about football, and will care about the other sports. The moretelevisions you have your games on, and the more people see you play, the more your league can change peoples’ minds.” They're nowin it together, two hearts beating as one. Football at heart of deal At its core this merger deals with school presidents and other suits who willbe slightly morelow-keyon Saturdayafternoons — the day for which this decision was made. Football fields will determine Alleat Tu | alistic” for his team to compete for a league title every year in the MWC. Heworries that the league needs topromote itself better after backing away from dominant network ESPN to joiupstart College Sports Network. ‘The MWC and CSTV arent on a seven-year, $82 million contract nearly a year ago, and it goes into effect in 2006. The new station gave the league Location: Fort Worth, Tex. Enrotiment: 8,000 Colors: Purple and White Affiliation: Private Founded: 1873 Football stadium: Amon G. Carter Stadium (capac- ity: 46,000) Basketball arena: Daniel Meyer Coliseum (capac- more than double the money ity: 7,200) of ESPN'soffer, and promised superior visibility, marketing and “fan friendly” game starting times. “Everyone's goal should be to improve, promote and market what's going on,” herty Famous athletes: Davey O'Brien, Sammy Baugh, BobLilly, LaDainian Tom- linson Worth: The Fort Worth Zoo, Six Flags Over Texas said, “I honestly feel the Moen: tain West is underappreciated. Pro sports teams in the Maybe some others are over-ap- area: Dallas the successfor both sides. Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Patterson bringsin a programthat has hada lot of Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars Places of business: AmericanAirlines, Radio _| | | | Shack, Pier 1 imports, Travelocity.com, Lockheed | recent successandfeelsit will compete favorably(see “Keeping Score”info box, this page). Hebaseshis reasoning on recenthistory, overall success of the program anda willingness to build (read: spend) for the future, TCUwent5-6 last uncharacteristically down year in the span of a decade — andis ucked by mediato finish sixth ip its inaugural MWCseason. itterson doesn't think his tfam is far from the hunt for ‘st place. “I've watched film onall of the (MWC) teams,” Patterson id. “I don't think it will be y harderfor us to prepare r them thanit is for them to Hreparefor us. Utahis an older sae and the rest are young nd talented. I don't think you'll y team winthis league ar with less than two It’s thattight. + “We understanda high level of competition, and we'reall ex- ited to be a partofthis league.” Patterson knows more than a little about the MWC, He coached at Utah State from 1992-94 and New Mexico in Martin means more cash and TV exposure. Having a bowl game in a homestadium ofoneofits membersis attractive,too. TCU hasn't played a down yet, and things are looking up already, Thompsonsaid. Both sides view the nearly $1 million investmentto join the MWC, plus the $400,000 spentto get out of Conference USA,as well worth the investment. TCU's formeraffiliation was considered a basketball confer- ence. It has turned to dust. TCU was one of eight Conference USA members to leave.Five teams — Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Louisville and South Florida — joined the Big East. Saint Louis and Charlotte jumpedto the Atlantic 10. preciated because perception of media can give them.” Not having Pitino or Calipari around might makerecruiting easier for Dougherty, or at least more even.But it could also be a downfall, he said. “The leaguegains the credibility ofits coaches,” Dough- erty said. “(The MWC) has very good coaches. They're just typically not as widely known.” Dougherty is taking a waitand-see approach, like a lot of coaches,on the issues of competition, travel and league improvement.Theidea of playing a true round-robin schedule in conference play — seeing every league membertwice — is a benefit, he said. C-USA didn’t have every team play each other evenly, which created somechasms in determining a champion. I'm anxiousto find out where wefit in,” Dougherty said.“I’m going to be kindofbe patient, see what the MWCis all about, and howit affectsus.” The previous administration Thenation’s obsession with change could be the MWC’s gain. “Their athletics department had 18 teamsgointo the postseason,” Thompson said of TCUlast season.“They are a phenomenaladdition to this conference.” Eric Hymanleft his athletic director job at TCU in April for South Carolina. He'll precisely say he spent 91 months in Fort Worth — sevenyears, seven months for those without an abacus. Heleft because he wanted to Stadium. TCUhas produced some fine ones,too. Old-timers will remember Sammy Baugh and Hoopsnot so happy and nota “maintainer,” Hyman rebukestheironyofhis self- 1938 Heisman Trophy winner move, it’s men’s basketball. vey O'Brien (See “All About ‘GCU" info box,this page). More fecnm San Diego Charger jar running back LaDainian miinson, a two-time NCAA ishing champion,also spent Once a Kansasassistant, TCU coach Neil Dougherty followed KansasState’s Lon Kruger, whois now a MWC memberat 1996-97. His Loboslost in Provo in 1996. “L remember they always have great crowds and good football teams,” Patterson said of BYU and LaVell Edwards e in Fort Worth.“L-T.”still ‘Hens to campusoften. Sandwiched between those eras were some decadesthat ‘TCU would ratherforget. Every MWCprogram sharesthattrait. Patterson, a defensive special- ift, inherited the program in (01 after Dennis Franchione ted for Alabama. The sucss continued. In his first three asons Patterson was27-10. In 2003, TCU wasalmost ‘ah before the Utes. The Horned Frogs wontheir, ffrst 10 games andthreatened the BCS hierarchy. But a 40-28 I@ss at Southern Missin the secqpd-to-last regular-season game that ambition. The ason still ended 11-2, which is hen some might say the signal t§ the MWCstarted. Expansion hiatus? MWCcommissioner Craig said TCU will be the Igst of expansion for a while. Nine teams, he and coaches like Patterson agree,is perfect. If means aneveneight confer@ice games, four on the road andfour at home. Schools like BoiseState, resno State and Hawaii — just a@couple years ago, considered jable options for the MWC to aid — are no longer under conng to 12 teams, which could fad to twodivisions and a bnference championship game the plan of attack in major pnferenceslike the Big 12, putheastern Conference and (CC — is notpart of the plan ir the MWCright now. “We're goingto play with Ine teamsfor a number of ars,” Thompsonsaid. ‘TCU brings enoughrecent iccess that the league doesn't tel like addition would help. he Horned Frogs have been to bstseason bowl gamesin six of fe past seven years. TCU also ill bring a local bowl game, be Fort Worth Bowl,starting Entering his fourth season at TCU, Dougherty knows Wyomingcoach Steve McClain, who wasanassistant in Fort Worth before leaving for Laramie. And the TCU coach knows New MexicobossRitchie McKay becausea few years ago they werefinalists for the Colorado State job that McKay won,in But those connections, or even the other MWCcoaches Dougherty doesn’t know so well, don’t commandthe same attention asthesideline generals his team is leaving behind. Rick Pitino (Louisville), Tom Crean (Marquette), John Calipari (Memphis) andothers are a hardactto follow. Granted, C-USA isn't in as good of shape these days, But Doughertyis still concerned. “The whole realignment was a downerofsorts for me,” Dougherty said. “I like Conference USA, but only when you keepeveryoneinit. “It can be frustrating with all of the changesthis school hashad(in leagueaffiliations). Morespecifically, I think where our program wasthe day we got here and whereit is now, youhaveto give teams in (C- USA)credit. We were growing and they were pushing us to grow.” Dougherty, whose team went to the postseason(NIT)in the Calling himself a “builder” description. After all, why leave at the’beginning of TCU's new adventure for a more stable school? His family has spent most of theirlives in the Carolinas and desired to return. Of course, his new job means being in the high-profile SoutheasterConference. An added caveat: The newfootball coachis the bombastic Steve Spurrier. About the new task in general — andnotjust the chore of corraling the new “ball coach” — Hymansaid:“Let's just say I haveplenty to pray for when I go to bed at night.” Hedoesnot think his old school has nearly as much to fret. “A lot depends on(the success of) football, but I don’t know if there will be any concerns,” Hymansaid. “The mentality is that people in Texas think west. They don’t think of (C-USA) schools like East Carolina or South Florida necessarily as rivals, because the tendencyis to look andbe part of the west. In that sense,it’s a better fit for TCU.” His one animosity about his old schoolis directed toward people whoreferto it as “Texas Christian.” Hymanis quick to correct people,noting the school wantsto usethe initials for sports teams. “TCU is how the school wants to be branded,” Hymansaid. It could also be called small. TCU's enrollment of about 8,000 is larger only than Air Force (about 4,000). Wyoming is a close sixth at 9,000, and the gapis considerable against the other MWCschools. BYU's en- ops gett me Sie ees Ke y = Scieihe e ehen ania Keration, Thompsonsaid. Get- If there is a sport at TCUthat has roomto gripe about the return closer to home. : The tradition could start this ear. If the Big eam doerua th-place team doesn't pe vat ned the Seriyaet MWC vill receive the Big 12's bid to be Forth Worth Bowlto join the fague's three other postseason hs Te Bowl in MemTenn.; Las Vegas Bowl; FILE/Fort Worth Star Telegram TCU head coach Gary Patterson gives Terran Williams a paton the helmet ashis team faces Louisville on Oct. 19, 2002. Patterson has been TCU’s headfootball coachsince 2001. | Keeping score | * Basketball is a clear-cut 16-game country,blue grass and rock ‘n roll. Thatis, there are fans ofall sorts of music (and sports) down there. But it won't always be the loudest beep on the radar. MWCfootball coaches are || Utah 48-22 4(4-0) excited to have another connection to Texas. Most of TCU’s | €Su 46-28 5 (2-3) roster comesfrom inside one of | Air Force 41-30 2 (1-1) the country’s mostfootball-ferBYU 40-33. 2(0-2) | tile states. (41-20). Former UNLVskipper BYU hashadsuccessthere in | UNM 37-36 _3(0-3) | Jim Schlossnagleis the coach. the past, and hopesto get more | UNLV 28-42 1.(4-0) | Women's basketball has gone with the addition of former to five consecutive NCAA tour- Texas Tech coach Robert Anae, SDSU 25-44 naments. . whois the Cougars’ offensive | Wyoming 23-46 100 | Men's golf has wonfive coordinator. New Mexico also straight leaguetitles, and looks there regularly. women’ssocceris hoping to “If anything, we're probably rollmentis about 30,000. change its losing fortuneby hir- used to a different kindof surBut Hyman, or new TCU AD ing UNLV coach Dan Abdalla, vival,” Patterson said. “If he’s a Danny Morrison, does not see who led the Rebels to last year’s good highschoolfootball player size as a factor in competingin MWCtitle. from Texas, oddsarehe'll stay athletics, even football. . Softballis being added. around home,Butthere are still Hymanpointsout the nearEveryone knows,though,this a lot of good choices.It’s always BCS bid and a professionalstar merger was a football decision. a battle to recruit around here.” like the NFL's Tomlinson as Said Morrison:“The MounIn Texas, pro sports and the exhibits A and B that TCU can tain Westis in a very good posi- Big 12 are higher on the food keep up. tion right now. Andit’s really chain than TCU or the MWC. Hymansaid geography knocking on the door of a BCS That won't likely change. Morriwould notget in the way,eiautomatic berth.” son, however,insists the nearby ther, whenit comesto creating competition isn’t a bad thing. rivalries. The closest MWC Familiar stomping “I really see the pros and the opponentis New Mexico (738 Big 12.as valuable being around grounds miles) and San DiegoStateis us,nota liability,” Morrison 1,325 miles away. But if distance The past school year at TCU said, “It brings interest. This werethe only way to make produced three conference area lovessports.I believe we'll blood-boiling foes, the athletic championships, seven secondcreate recognition that (the directors note, TCU would have place finishes and the C-USA’ MW(O)is a very good conferhad a fiercer relationship with Male and FemaleAthlete of the encein all sports.” neighbor Southern Methodist in Year. Dallas. That matchuphad all the Under Hyman,according to Outof the frying pan... sparkof a soaked firecracker. a school biography,the athletic “Rivalries are going to be teams consistently posted a Ofcourse,it will take time to based onthelevel of competigraduation percentage rate makevalid assessments of how tion,” Morrisonsaid.“In a lot of higher than that of the overall good thefit is between TCU and . sports, with various teams,it TCU student es the MWC. will be quite high.” “Wedidn’t just look at this For now, TCUis banking on That's a pleasant idea to the asa football decision,” TCU getting conferencestability and basketball coach Dougherty, chancellor Victor Boschinisaid. sharing a sports-obsessedstate whose team is looking for a foe “But, yes, the exposure and po- and a top-10 television market. that gets fans and alumniriled tentialfor the BCS ... those two Theconference is banking on up. werepretty big factors.” getting a team that has had “I say this in the nicest way Boschini credits BYU presirecentfootball success which possible,” Dougherty said. “But dent Cecil O. Samuelson as an could lead to bigger paydays for rivalries are great, and imporinfluential figure during delibevery team. tant. It’s okay to hate somebody.” erations. TCU doeshave a chance to TCU,like BYU,is a private, showcaseitselfto its eight new faith-based school. BYUis opfriends, and an entire nation, in New man on campus erated by the Churchof Jesus the first month of competition Morrison is hesitant to give Christ of Latter Day Saints. (see “For Openers” info box, his every opinion about TCU’s TCU is historically related this page). niche. to but not governed by the Thefootball team opens the Afterall, by the timethis sto- Christian Church(Disciples of season at national powerhouse Ty goestoprint, he'll have been Christ). OklahomaonSept. 3, a game there only about 75 days. He’s Boschinisaid his school's best that even former AD Hymanis still on whathe calls the “LTL fit is with all other eight memexcited to attend. Twelve days tour” — Listen. Thank people: bersofits new conference, not later, the Horned Frogsplay Learn. just BYU. their first MWC gameagainst He accepted the job after “Wediscussed it with the Utah. The Utes, two-time despendingthelast three years as boardoftrustees before making fending MWCchampions who the commissionerof the South- a decision, charted the pros and were picked by media to win ern Conference. cons,” Boschini said. “It sounds again,will be the guinea pigs Asforthe nation’s recent simple saying it like this, but in discovering whatit’s like to gameofconference musical these were very Jengthy discus- play in the sweltering Texas chairs, Morrison laughs and sions. We weren't excited about heat. points out the history of the having to moveagain.” The next game,Sept. 24, the leaguehe just left. C-USA essentially disbanded Horned Frogswill get a taste of Founded in 1921, the Southern in Novemberof 2003, when MWCaltitude — at BYU. Conferenceis the country’s ittraded Cincinnati, DePaul, “It'll be just as hard for Mounfourth oldest. In 1932, teams dis- Louisville, Marquette and South tain Westteams to adjust to banded to form the SEC. Twen- ; Florida (Big East) for Central 95 percent humidity,” football ty-one yearslater,the original Florida, Marshall, Rice, SMU coachPattersonsaid,“asit is members ofthe Atlantic Coast and Tulsa. for us to get used to thealtiConference separated from the Fanswill remember TCU tude.” pack. and the eight other MWC Withtheir differences in “Breaking awayisn't unschools were attached once, topography, and similar hopes usual,” Morrisonsaid.“It’s been as part of the old Western for the future, the MWCandits going ona lot longer than the | Athletic Conference. BYU was newest memberareoff to see last few years.” partof an octet that met in if er AS oa bring each other up TCUjoined the MWCin secret before seceding in 1998 together January oflast year. Duringhis from what was deemed a rapinterview at TCU, he walked idly breaking 16-team union » Jason Franchuk can around campus wearing a Uniin competition, geography and be reachedat 344versity of Texas-colored burntfinances. 2557or by e-mail at orangeshirt so he wouldn't give TCU is hopingit has found a eeegraidcxtecom. away why he was there. homeafter a string of four conIncognito,he left impressed. ferencesin 10 years. “I asked general questions The MWCfounding wasn't For openers ee about TCU to see what the thefirst time TCU wasleft people werelike and what they hind. In the mid-1990s, the || Local fans will gettosee | thought of the school,” Morschool waspart ofthe presti| TCU plentyin the early | risonsaid,“I left so impressed gious and powerful Southwest part of various sports withfacilities, the maintenance Conference. Butthe league seasons: .. and the people I talked to.It dissolved in 1995 when Texas, | Football — TCU plays just seemed to be a good fit for Texas A&M, Texas Tech and me here.” Baylor joined the Big 12 ConFrom afar, Morrisonsaid con- ference. TCU hadfive years in ference leaders have admired the WACbefore C-USA started || at BYU on Sept. 24, MWC commissioner Thompin 2000. | Volleyball — TCU begins son's work at spearheading the Mountain Westplay at “Peoplehere are excited conference's advancementsince about joining Utah on Sept. 30 and at ji up with some old 1999. BYU the nextnight, competition,” Boschinisaid. FOOTBALL (SINCE 1999) | School || tou Record Bowis $0.22 5 (23) | schedule. In the other sports, we'll be a good addition, too.” Asfor those other TCU sports... Baseball will be counted on to help improyea league that is hardly respected nationally. The Horned Frogsare typically good and were ranked as high as 24th last season while winning a school-record 41 games “Peers marvel at what he's basketball team went to the postseason (NIT)in 2004-05, its first postseasontrip since 1999. e Oct. 1. Texas ties FILE/Fort Worth Star-Telegram TCU forward Judson Stubbs (15) drives past Cincinnati forward Jason Maxiell (54) during a gameon Feb. 26, 2005. The TCU is perfect. It gives you four home and four away football games. Speaking of competition, there is plenty in Texas. TCU will always be opera in astate known for wn |